More of my fave music from the iTunes Store

The discoveries continue! I mostly gravitate towards melodic, well-produced, emotional slices of sonic life. If that sounds like your cup of coffee too, check these out:

NAZCA – "Profondo Rosso"

The original's by Goblin, and it accompanies a truely horrifying movie. However, this rendition breaks out the pan flutes and other folksy instruments, and breathes with the soul of a campfire quartet (or equivalent) performing it. (Is that a Roland-or-soundalike "Doo" vocal patch I hear in the background?)

Psykosonik – Unlearn

This single and its copious remixes are a snapshot of rave music circa the mid-late-90s. Actually, that's not totally true, because while "Unlearn" isn't as riff-heavy as Psykosonik's previous techno-archetype, "Welcome To My Mind", it carries an organic air throughout it. What's really exceptional is that most of the remixes, some by Psykosonik and some by others, have a unique character which isn't throwaway boring… unlike most of the remix EPs I've heard. Some of the same loops ring through, but take it in like alternate realities and you'll do just fine.

Basic Pleasure Model – "How to Live (Paul Sebastien Atari 400 Mix)"

BPM (a Blade Runner reference) was birthed in part from the ashes/bones of Psykosonik, and Sebastien was another of its members. Contrary to the name, this doesn't sound so much like old vidgame music as it does carry a mid-tempo groove at the beginning reminiscent of Air's "Sexy Boy". I'd label this synth-pop, but it goes a little beyond that. There are lots of layers and little tricks throughout.

Richard Grey – "Thriller (Full Vocal Club Mix)"

I'm usually not one for straight-out house remixes unless they bring something entirely new to the dancefloor. This doesn't have any wild DSP trickery or searingly fresh synth sounds. What it does possess is the audacity to start with a tight loop like minimal techno, before the horns fade in, and within 2 seconds, you're transported back to the land of zombies dancing in sync and Vincent Price's ominous narrative. Well, you won't find him here, but what you do get are snippets of MJ himself and his signature "Woo!" used to great effect. Catchy and… hey, makes you dance.

Robot Dreams (compilation)

I've listened and skipped through so many ambient music samplers. Despite what Eno said, most ambient music really is no better than muzak. But this definitely is. And while 30-sec. samples don't do justice, I was astounded to experience the cohesiveness yet uniqueness in each track. Delicate pianos, evolving drum loops, and twisting of clichés are what you'll find in abundance. Most of the contributions from netlabel Kahvi Collective are stellar, and I've been listening to this as bedtime music for some nights. It makes me imagine I live in a cyberpunk apartment far above the bustling city. A long time ago, I lost another sampler like this and can't recall the name. But Robot Dreams — at least in part — makes up for that absence. Here's one of the times I took a really big risk, musically, and it paid off.

Deepsky – "Tempest"

Also known as the theme to MTV's Amp over a decade ago. Infused with acid power and TR-909 snare rushes, here's another fine, blazing emblem of the earlier rave scene. It's far more repetitive than the strongly Hybrid-influenced prog breakbeat madness that graced In Silico (their 2nd album), but insofar as Deepsky's early works, this is bouncy and brilliant. I like the filtered section that comes in @ 2:12, which is a nice departure from the "Woot-woot!" riff.

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